The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1909. THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1909. THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

In our issue of yesterday we gavo somo information respecting the places which various; ■ members of Parliament havo chosen in the new arrangement of the House. To the eye of anybody who takes a real interest in politics the choico of moro than one of these members will bo regarded as having no littlo significance. Nor are we prepared to say that that would bo an incorrect assumption, a!< though, of couiiio, it k ouy to road into

a member's choice of seat a great deal more than is meant. The most interesting choice is that of Mr. T. E. Taylor, who, although he had three areas to select from, has thought fit to place himself on the outside edge of the Opposition block. No doubt Mr, Taylor was not uninfluencod by the consideration that an independent member should be free to sit even in an unexpected place. The Opposition can hardly regard him as a recruit, although he will no doubt frequently bo found voting with them. Messes. Fisher and Wright will sit together at the back of. the Opposition— a decision that amounts to a notification that they are pretty thoroughly in sympathy with the .policy of the Eoform party. In sitting close behind tho front Ministerial benches, Messrs. .LawrY, : Field, Wilford, and DAVEY.are plainly in their proper places. There are always some members who seen: .out of' , place unless they are very closo indeed to the coat-tails of Ministers.; But as there is necessarily room for only a limited number of devoted loyalists directly behind Ministers, no suspicion of 'disloyalty must, be held to attach to tho Ministerialists who sit elsewhere. Nobody would suppose, for example, that Messrs. Eeminoton, Laukenson, 'and .Graham are any less faithful " in .their devotion to . tho Government If or their. selection of seats in the ! central area of the reconstructed debat-iing-hall; Their hearts arc on, Sir Joseph Ward's desk, wherever their bodies may be. Mr. M'Laren'b choice of a seat at the back of,the central block is easily intelligible as the action of an independent who would not dream of entoring the Opposition block," and who would sit further forward in the' secondary Ministerialist area were it not that he has some doubts about tho Government's good character. That Mr. Luke, however, should place himself alongside Mr. M'Laren is rather a surprise.. Ono should conclude, not that ho is giving Sir Joseph Ward warning of his possession of an independent mind, but that the disaster that overtook tho Ministerialist causo-in this district has loft Mr. Luke with no local ally. .In following the custom of seeking his comrade amongst his townsmen Mr.. Luke has been able to find nobody moro,friendly.to the Government than -Mr. M'Laren—an intcrosting little commentary'upon the Government's tnana in this quarter of tho 'country.' , ; ■' ■;■■.■','■ ;■; ' ■ ;'

; The, chief 'feature of. the internal ar-'i rahgembnts of the now Chamber 13 the fact that it. consists - of three sections.' This is a novelty. Whether, it may , bo an .unconscious anticipation of a'time when a three-party system, such as has confused. Australian politics since 7. the ; establish-: mentof the'•Pederatipn, will.'arise; as a,. prelude ibia.ne'w duai-party systomi,tirno ; alono:can show. , . ,^ T o small part is. played .inthe,shapihg ; bf 'parties, 1 when.tho.cir-. .cumacarices are.'not abnormal,-.by:.the ac-. tual arrangement of; the-'seats in the 'charnb6r^.'jfk/.whicK../Porliamentv' : dpos.'.' : its , work-- Tho-strongest barriorfto tho evblution of'the group system=that istho 'ritle, .in,,ii!uropcan assemblies is.a dcbating-hall. in.which mon have to chocwe between , only .tvvp- sidea. At ,- the , present' time "there is. a; stirring and "unrest 'in : NeW Zealand politics. Even if the Ministerialist party is' as a;; wholcr inclined..to ..'support ,the 'Govo'rnment.Hhroiigh.thickvandf4li.i'n)( , great':tiino will' olapse ■?.before."all But ■'the most Sornle.'MihWterM to,,a more.jucUci'al'.atti^udeJarrangement of seats is yefy "convenient for those members who may become weary of "the Government without' wishing "to embrace the full policy of'the. ofilciil .OpV'- ■ position;'■; The, seats,; in fact/ are; ready ,'for\ a/Cehtro. ; party. /Wo'imay therefore •look to the mbn in the' middle block .of th'o new chimbef.'for any [ manifestations that may be forthcoming of discontent with the policy : ;'of, opportunist' Socialis m ,, which Mr; Sedpos made to pay so well, but which -will' become for Sir- Joseph-Warp an-incrijaßingly difficult game' tovplay.> The 'influence,ol tho. galleries upon the general progress;of: -pdlitica ifl"6f ; course: quite but its influence upon, tho methods of debate may/bo,'and was in 1906, very'considerable. i: In the old Parliament Ilpuse the galleries accommodated a multitude,,and it was but natural that Mr. SeddoN, who lovod.public attention,' .shpuld have made that session a spectacle rather than a period- of sober business. Large galleries make, an .irresistible inducement to; small men to-talk. , Last year, when there were practically no spectators of the debates!: the; talkers wero really quiet. In the coming session provision is.made. for a number, of; spectators .which/ though'larger than!last : year, is still, fortunately,'quite small when compared with the. number for .which there, was,.provision- in the old. Parliament House. There are so many grave; questions claiming the.: serious, attention.of Parliament that it is to bo hoped that the galleries will seem to the talkative .memand to the conceited/member,, too small to be worth wasting'words upon.